Shortly after the Supreme Court heard CBI director Alok Verma's plea challenging centre's decision to send him on a leave, his no-2 Rakesh Asthana also moved a similar plea. 'You missed the bus', he was told.

Rakesh Asthana&nbsp | &nbspPhoto Credit:&nbspANI

New Delhi: After the Supreme Court heard CBI director Alok Verma's plea challenging the intervention by the Centre, special director Rakesh Asthana also moved the SC challenging the government's decision to send him on an indefinite leave. Appearing for Asthana, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi requested the court that the plea be heard on Monday. In response to his request, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi asked, "Why are you late. You missed the bus. Your petition is not before us," Gogoi said that the court will look into the matter.

CBI director Verma had moved the apex court challenging the Central government's decision to send him on a leave. His second-in-command Rakesh Asthana, against whom, there was an FIR over allegations of demanding Rs 5 crore as a bribe, was also sent on leave, while a team of investigating officers was shuffled. Asthana had challenged the FIR in Delhi High Court. The FIR filed by a businessman was linked to Moin Akhtar Qureshi, whose case Asthana had been probing.

The government then appointed M Nageshwar Rao, a 1986 batch Odisha-cadre IPS officer as the interim chief. The Supreme Court, however, asked the government to complete the probe against the CBI chief within two weeks and barred Rao from taking any major decisions. The court also said that the decisions taken by Rao since October 23 will not be counted and the ones taken by him shall be placed before the SC in a sealed cover.

Commenting on the Supreme Court order, CBI spokesperson said, "We will follow today's Supreme Court order in letter and spirit and wherever necessary we will seek a legal opinion."

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